Australian Chris Marro-Castella was among those on board the Bell-505 helicopter that crashed on Bukit on July 19.
Initial reports suggested that Marro-Castella and his companions were surveying land for property development. However, it was later revealed that the flight was part of Russell Harris's 46th birthday celebration, during which he invited two friends and a photographer for a helicopter ride.
Marro-Castella described how shortly after takeoff, those on board heard alarming sounds of "shaking, banging, and cracking." The helicopter reportedly got entangled in kite strings near Suluban Beach in Uluwatu.
"I think we were in the air for about three minutes before hearing those strange, unpleasant sounds, and I felt the helicopter start to fall from about 20–30 meters," Marro-Castella recounted. Luckily, the Australian tourist was able to utilize his army training, first shutting down the helicopter's engine and then figuring out how to help himself and his fellow passengers escape the wrecked cabin.
"I thought the pilot was probably dead because there was no response from him. I heard Kayla (the photographer) screaming that she couldn't breathe. It could have ended in various ways, but we essentially made the best of a bad situation."
Everyone on board was taken to Siloam Hospital in Bali for medical evaluation; Marro-Castella, Harris, and his partner were discharged. The incident, which fortunately did not end in tragedy, prompted Bali authorities to address the issue of kites, which locals frequently fly across the island during the summer.
Bali's Regional Secretary Dewa Made Indra reminded the public of the law prohibiting kite flying within 5 nautical miles (9 kilometers) of the airport, as stated in Article 2, Clause 1 of Law No. 9 of 2000. Kite flying is also restricted to a height of no more than 300 meters (1000 feet) within a radius of 10 to 30 nautical miles (18 to 54 kilometers).
He also emphasized that violators could face criminal penalties, especially if a tragic incident occurs. The punishment for breaking these laws includes a maximum fine of 5,000,000 Indonesian rupiah or up to three months in prison.
Indonesian Aviation Authority officials have been urged to install warning signs indicating the boundaries of flight safety zones in Bali's regions.
Ketut Gede Arta, the head of the South Kuta district, stated that adding these signs is a crucial step to ensure flight safety and prevent similar incidents in the future. "By installing these warning signs, we hope the public will become more aware and understand the importance of aviation safety. Kite flying can be organized in permitted areas and within the designated radii."
Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, has promised to take strategic steps to enhance aviation safety. He convened an emergency meeting with stakeholders. "We must do everything to avoid a repeat of the recent helicopter crash due to kite strings," he said. He pledged to ensure that communities across Bali are informed about the laws regarding kite flying.
However, whether kite flying can be banned in villages within flight safety zones remains a big question.
The head of Bali's Civil Police, Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, complained that when he and his team previously tried to discuss these laws with the public, few took the matter seriously.
"The public often mocks us as if the police have nothing more important to worry about than kites. People don't realize that careless kite flying can have fatal consequences."
He noted that parents should inform their children about the laws, as most kites are flown by children and teenagers. He urged kite enthusiasts to fly them at night, not to tie them to trees, and to reduce their flying height.
Dharmadi assured that the Bali provincial government will not ban kite flying but officials intend to enforce existing laws.
Meanwhile, there is still no information on whether the owner of the kite that caused the Bell-505 crash in Uluwatu has been found. Bali HeliTour, the company that organized the tour, also did not comment on the situation with the culprit.
Over the past three years, helicopter tours in Bali have been in increasing demand, with many companies offering this service. One of the most popular helicopter tour routes is over the Bukit Peninsula, offering stunning views of the Uluwatu cliffs. Other popular routes include flights over Tanah Lot Temple, around Mount Batur, and the Tegallalang rice terraces.
Sources: detikTravel, viva.co.id
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